mā / mō + person

For Someone

Level 2

Mā and mō introduce who or what something is for.

How It Works

Mā Mere tēnei kai presents this food as intended for Mere. Mō Mere tēnei kākahu presents this clothing as intended for Mere. The category reflects the relevant relationship, not the recipient’s gender.

Do not flatten every use into one English word. A future actor-emphasis frame uses mā ... e; other uses of mō concern topics or reasons. Read the whole frame before deciding what role the following phrase has.

Examples (3)

Mā Mere tēnei kai.
This food is for Mere.
Mō Mere tēnei kākahu.
This clothing is for Mere.
Mā wai tēnei pukapuka?
Who is this book for?

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mā / mō + personLevel 2For Someone

Learn This First

Introduce intended beneficiaries and prospective relationships through food, clothing and a book question. Interpret mā or mō with the whole nominal frame; the later responsibility construction with an e clause has a different role.

a / o possessionChoosing a or O Possession
The relationship-based category lesson supports the contrast between food intended for Mere with mā and clothing intended for Mere with mō.
Level 2

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

anakeOnlyLevel 5

Practice mā / mō + person in Bubblegum

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